The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-09-07
THE ALLIGATOR MARKET.
STRANGE SIGHTS IN A SOUTHERN
SAURIAN MERCHANTS STORE.


Caught and Cared Fora 15O-
Years-oid Alligator.
"How do you sell the best, madame2"
asked the iDquisitive reporter of a quiet
looking woman who was the one peace
ful object in the screaming, noisy world
about her.
"Well, l hardly know how to answer
that question:" she responded, her voice
pitched high enough to penetrate the
chirping squeaking, cawing and growing
of the congregation of feathered folk
fluttering about. ''You see, they come
at most any price, and when / tell you
they come all the way from fifty cents to
5000 apiece, you can understand how
prices vary"
AS is well known, sugar, oranges and
alligators form three staples in Louisiana
exports and internal revenue, and it was
to discover the exact condition of the
crocodile market and whether the
seasons catch had been good that visit
was paid by reporter to the big tanks on
Chartres street.
Alligators are brought into town in
every stage, from an embryo state in the
egg to great, angry monsters adozen feet
long, tipping the scales hundreds Of
pounds. Men hunt their hideous game
after dark, stalking the swamps, drag
ging lagoons and wading through low,
oozy marshes, where vast numbers of al
ligators abide. Several methods of capt
uring them are resorted to. Those
caught with hooks are only fit for i'm
mediate killing, as they sicken and die in
short order. The big ones are lassoed
and smaller fry shared in a heavy seine
made for this purpose. The hunter
realizes he is after dangerous game with
lots of vicious habits, and so, besides
binding their stupid eyes by lamp worn
in his cap, he is prepared to send sooth-
ing bullet whenever necessary.
After bringing in his find Of eggs, the
crocodile farmer heaps them in boxes and
simply depends on time to do its perfect
work. In the course of weeks the in
fant gnaws and claws at the hard shell
until he finally squirms his way into the
world.
Passing through the big bird store the
alligator region is reached. 1t is a pretty,
girden-like place, with tender, lacy vines
trained in delicate festoons up the lattice
dgainst the dark brick wall. Great red
pots hold rich foliage plants that lend a
tropical air to the spot, fitting the in.
habitants of the long cemented tanks.
These troughs are built six in row, the
occupants being carefully graded accord
ing to size. Twice week the water
must be changed for the salubrity of the
atmosphere. Twice week refreshments
are handed round, beef lights as a rule
delicacy for which alligators have very
pronounced penchant. The half-grown
variety eat from five to six at meal, dis
tending their uncomely, shapeless
stomachs until the receptacles refuse to
hold another particle. They feed only
at intervals, but have voracious appetites
then.
They arc very ugly creatures, with
wretched dispositions, as the reporter had
fair opportunity of discovering. Hang
ing over the side of the tank in playful,
almost intimate relations with the beast,
his sheltering umbrella gave tip too far
and touched the extreme point of the
things snout. 1t was enough; with a
terrifying below and blowing off of
steam the infuriated being rose two
inches out of water and sent his OBJ
server exactly three feet in the air. 1t
was a severe shock and has generated re-
spect, If not admiration, for the alliga-
tors sensitiveness. Lying in the sun
shine, every grizzly feature is accentuated.
Their great shovel heads float ON the wa
ter with stupid, evil eyes that blink like
yellow eXcrescences on a mud-colorcd
surface. A tiny, minute slit in the snout
admits enough air to enable them to
make sound frightful enough to scare
the stoutest-hearted.
The keeper of the tanks said hundreds
were sold yearly to travelling showmen,
numbers being sent TO Europe as curiosi
ties, besides many that were bought by
Northern visitors. Saloon owners buy
them constantly to keep on their coun-
ters as an attraction to possess, Chicago
and st. Louis being noticeable among
the number An artist here in town set
them up with all sorts of comical de-
vices. He stuffs them with cotton,
and fashions preachers, lawyers, gam
blers, organ-grinders, cotton handlers
and duellists out of the ridiculous little
| figures.
The saurian merchant has a perfect treas
ure that he keeps in close quarters and
guards as the fairest jewel of his entire
collection of beauties. 1t is huge, evil
smelling, sluggish reptile, measuring
twelve feet, whose age is calculated at
one hundred and fifty years. He lies
sprawled out on the floor of his trough,
in state of torpid stupidity. The crea-
ture looks bored to death and with
enough malignity in his depraved yellow
eyes to devour every visitor who studies
his handsome proportions. -New Orleans
Titoes- DeyDOer0f